The Bane Witch is the perfect witchy thriller for spooky season. Morgyn’s prose grabs readers as they delve into the darkness of an abusive marriage. The story follows Piers and her journey back to her roots as a Bane Witch. The magic system in this novel is unique and well explained. I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s for the eARC.

Absolutely fabulous. Compelling from the jump, with a fascinating and unique magic system and interesting characters that I couldn’t walk away from. The balance between responsibility and choice, between predestination and free agency, is weighty, and following Piers as she makes her way toward her place in life was a crazy ride.
I haven’t been this hooked by a book in a while. 10/10 recommend.

I love a good story about witches, my favorite being A Discovery of Witches. This is a different take on witches and their powers, and I got sucked into the story from the first page.

Piers is trying to escape an abusive marriage by faking her death and making it look like her husband murdered her. She has made her way to an elderly aunt's home in a remote village in New York, where she learns her high tolerance for poisonous plants is not only a family trait but a weapon used by the female members of her family. Calling themselves Bane Witches, they use their poisonous powers to kill men who prey on women and children. As a new member, Piers must prove herself worthy or face death at the hands of the Bane Witches. As the body count rises, Piers finds herself not only the focus of her witch sisters but also the local sheriff. When a predator gets Piers in his sight, she faces her biggest challenge--kill or be killed.

This is a cautionary tale about strong women who possess the power to eliminate evil men. Piers faces a moral dilemma and must come to terms with dishing out justice outside the law. The reader is carried along on Piers's journey of discovering and then honing her powers, all while she is under a possible death sentence herself. Hers is a tightrope balancing act with deadly consequences. I sometimes had to suspend disbelief, but overall, this is a satisfying read. 4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is March 18, 2025.

"Piers Corbin has always had an affinity for poisonous things—plants and men. From the pokeweed berries she consumed at age five that led to the accidental death of a stranger, to the husband whose dark proclivities have become… concerning, poison has been at the heart of her story."

Here's the thing. I really had high hopes for this book and went into it thrilled. But the more I read, the more it fell flat for me. But I think it was more of a wrong book/wrong time type thing. Or I was the wrong reader for this book. It was brilliantly crafted and I can't really point to why I didn't work for me.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

"A witch on her own is a dead witch. Those who hunt alone often starve."

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

I really liked this book because it surprised me. I thought I knew what I was signing up for, having recently read Practical Magic and Witches of East End. I knew I wasn't expecting the cozy romance vibes of witchy books by Erin Sterling or Sangu Mandanna but I was not expecting The Bane Witch to be quite as dark as it was. This was a major plus for me because I often want more dark/thriller vibes from my witchy books (which probably explains my recent obsession with C.J. Cooke's writing).

The story follows Piers, a woman who escapes her abusive narcissistic husband and their nightmarish marriage by going to extreme lengths to disappear. She finds asylum with an estranged aunt who reveals that Piers is so much more and has always had a darkness within her that she now needs to learn how to harness in order to save herself and other women. What follows is an explosive, well paced mystery/thriller that I couldn't put down, especially once I was at about the halfway point. I remember thinking that this book reads like a well-written mystery/thriller television series that you just can't stop binging until the very last episode. I never felt like certain chapters dragged or were unnecessary. I took off a half a star just because some of the supporting characters felt a bit flat and one-dimensional but only compared to the very well-rounded main characters, who felt alive on every page.

The only thing I will say is that certain parts of this book could be quite triggering to readers, especially the parts where domestic violence is described. I hope in the final published version, there is a clear content warning page because I don't remember seeing one when I read the eARC (my access to it is expired now so I can't say for sure if it was there).

I thoroughly enjoyed this one for the most part. I had some gripes with it, but it not change how much I enjoyed it.
First off I loved the concept of this story; witches who could consume poisonous plants, store it in their bodies and then use it against predatory men. I was all in.
We follow Piers, as she escapes an abusive marriage and flees to a long lost aunt, where she learns secrets about her mother's family.
She finds herself involved with the local sherif, and this is a complication for her.
I enjoyed the writing style, it was very vivid and I had no problems with envisioning how everything was playing out on the page. The plot moved along very well, although there were some choices made that I did not agree with. The last 1/3 of the story felt like it dragged on for a bit, but also very rushed, if that makes sense.
I definitely recommend this one.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

“A very little poison can do a world of good. It’s all about how you apply it.”

The blurb describes this book as Practical Magic meets Gone Girl and I would say that is a very apt description but doesn’t quite describe it either. It is a little more twisted and dark than either in my opinion. It is hard to describe what I liked so much about this book without giving anything away so let me just say if it interests you then you will enjoy the ride. Following Piers journey as she finds herself, her family and her legacy as a bane witch is a thrilling ride from start to finish. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Read if you like:
Witchy vibes on the darker and spookier side
Some tough subject matter such as DV, trauma and survival.
Lore and supernatural elements
Female rage
A journey of self discovery and empowerment

“The bane witch” is a modern day witchcraft story full of magical elements but also components that tie into the psychological thriller genre. If you like a blended mix of genres like this then give it a go! There is lots of suspense to satisfy your thriller cravings and definitely enough witchy context for your whimsical side.

This book includes dark subject matter so make sure you go into it checking your TW and not expecting a happy fairytale. The main character fakes her death to escape a toxic and abusive relationship and in doing so finds herself embracing her magical heritage and coming into her own strengths and powers.

Ava Morgyn weaves a dark, twisted tale in The Bane Witch, skillfully blending magic, murder, and moral ambiguity into an irresistibly captivating narrative. Piers Corbin, the spellbinding anti-heroine at the center of the story, is dangerous, unapologetic, and utterly magnetic. Her discovery of her Bane Witch heritage is both chilling and empowering, allowing her to wield her unique ability to transform poison into justice. The atmospheric mountain setting, coupled with the eerie allure of Aunt Myrtle’s café, serves as the perfect backdrop for Piers’ deadly missions. As a serial killer lurks in the shadows and tension mounts, the stakes escalate to a heart-pounding climax. This wickedly addictive read is impossible to put down, leaving you eagerly turning the pages until the very end.

Ava Morgyn crafts a deliciously dark and twisted tale in The Bane Witch, blending magic, murder, and moral ambiguity into an irresistible concoction. Piers Corbin is a spellbinding anti-heroine—dangerous, unapologetic, and utterly magnetic. Her discovery of her Bane Witch heritage is both chilling and empowering, as she embraces her unique gift of turning poison into justice. The atmospheric mountain setting, paired with the sinister charm of Aunt Myrtle’s café, creates the perfect backdrop for Piers’ deadly escapades. With a serial killer on the loose and tension brewing, the stakes rise to a deadly crescendo. A wickedly fun read that’s impossible to put down!

Before I get to the review, I want to list the content warnings up front because there are so many.

Content Warnings- domestic violence, rape, physical assault, attempted sexual assault, murder, blood, gore, kidnapping, and suicide.

I first discovered this author in 2023 when her debut, The Witches of Bone Hill, released. I enjoyed it quite a bit, so when her sophomore novel came available for review, I snatched it up right away. I’m helpless against anything described as a cross between Practical Magic and Gone Girl.

The opening chapter grabbed my attention almost immediately. I had intended to read only a chapter or so and then head to bed. Instead, I found myself flipping pages as quickly as possible until I was about 20% in and realized it was way past my bedtime. This book starts out with the main protagonist, Piers Corbin, carrying through with a plan to fake her own death in order to escape her abusive, monstrous husband. The first seven or so chapters are her making her desperate escape, travelling across the country with little money and no resources, toward the home of her estranged aunt. She changes her appearance, and avoids cameras, but keeps finding herself in dangerous and impossible situations. There are flashback scenes of her violent life with her husband and several incidents as a girl that foreshadow her real identity. It was so compelling that I could not stop reading.

Then she finally arrives in Crow Lake, to the home of her aunt Myrtle, and can finally stop running. But this is when she discovers why she has such a pull toward poisonous plants. She’s a bane witch, and her birthright is consuming these plants and then using her magic to purge the world of wicked, evildoing men. She’s introduced to likeminded women who are part of her extended “family” and is given an ultimatum to which she has no choice but abide.

From there the chapters start to move between the police investigating her disappearance, and her in Crow Lake. I can see why it was compared to Gone Girl. Piers, now going by a different name and a fictional identity, has to learn everything she can about her magic, while planning her next mark, and keeping the local sheriff at bay. The entire book is a fast-paced adventure, with brutal scenes of poisonous murders, Piers basically fighting for her life to learn all she can about her craft and tracking the local serial killer and tiptoeing around a forming attachment to the sheriff. I was invested and even though what the ending would inevitably be became clear to me by around the 70% mark, I couldn’t wait to see how Piers would achieve her goals.

This is two books I’ve read by this author and enjoyed, I look forward to reading more.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the gifted ARC E-book Version of The Bane Witch!

I love when I get into a book and find myself constantly thinking about it and finding time to sneak in even a page or a paragraph just to find out what happens next, and that was The Bane Witch!  The best way I can think to describe this book would John Wick, meets Gone girl, Meets Practical Magic. I mean, what's not to love?😅


The story follows  along as the main character escapes the abuse of her husband and  finds her inner strength while also realizing her powers as a Bane Witch, a power that runs in every female in her family and has been used for generations to protect themselves and the women and children around them.

I honestly went in expecting just another typical witchy fun book. This book was anything but typical. Reader be warned this book touches on a lot of sensitive heavy topics: Domestic Abuse, SA, Emotional Abuse, & Murder... just to name a few. That being said, it was used so beautifully to set up the story and plot that it couldn't have been written without it. It was dark and heavy hitting at some points, and quite honestly the perfect Witchy Female Rage read and help channel some inner frustration with how the current political climate when it comes to women...

As someone who mainly reads books that are more on the spicy side, I have to say this book did semi closed door so perfectly. An amazing example that sometimes you don't always need extra spicy sex scenes and given the main characters history it almost felt respectful to her in a weird way.

Read if you enjoy:
Female Rage
Anti Hero
Family secrets
Witchy romance
Suspense
Serial Killers

This book was so good! I am not much for romance/smut but it had the thriller aspect I loved so much I could ignore the smut. It had everything I love about magic and women empowerment in a book. Can't recommend enough!

This book is for those who feel like the bad guy always wins.
It’s about taking down the patriarchy one scumbag at a time. Often through…unorthodox means if you catch my drift.
But more than that, it’s about survival, family, solidarity, and resilience. It’s about the centuries of pain and trauma women have endured and continue to endure at the hands of powerful men, but about the strength we always find to fight back - to survive. To thrive. And to hold our sisters up as those before held us.

Practical Magic meets Gone Girl was the perfect match!

The gripping story of a woman fleeing the abuse of her husband, with a witchy and dark twist!

4.5 stars! I really enjoyed this! I would call this a magical psychological thriller. It's definitely dark at times, with themes of revenge and taking your power back from abusive men. There are a ton of important messages throughout, but also some touchy subjects. TW for domestic abuse, mur/der, and SA. I was enthralled from the beginning and continuously rooting for the FMC. I like that the magic system is unique and explained well, and that you're given a backstory on how bane witches came to be. There are a couple twists I saw coming, and one that I was surprised didn't happen. The ending is slightly anticlimactic, but despite that I still highly recommend. This is a beautifully told story with great detail and vivid imagery. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This book is dark, haunting, and completely addictive. I loved every moment of it.

It follows Piers, a woman escaping her abusive husband by faking her own death. When she reconnects with her estranged aunt Myrtle, she discovers her family’s dark secret: they’re Bane Witches—women with the power to ingest poison and take vengeance on predatory men.

The story is packed with tension, and the eerie forest setting adds so much atmosphere. The lore around the Bane Witches is fascinating and unlike anything I’ve read before. Piers’ character growth kept me rooting for her, and I absolutely adored Myrtle—she’s the kind of no-nonsense mentor every witch story needs.

That said, the climax felt a bit rushed, and the writing can be a little over-the-top in places. But honestly? It didn’t matter much because I was so hooked. This isn’t an easy read—it tackles heavy topics like abuse and violence—but it’s powerful, emotional, and totally unique.

If you’re into dark, witchy thrillers, this one is a must-read.
Just make sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

**Netgallery Approved Review**

If I could describe this book in one word I would say she is intoxicating! I couldn't put this book down after the first chapter. Every chapter left me on the edge of my seat.

This is a story of her Piers Corbin a woman taking her life and death into her hands. She will learn that she comes from a world that she never knew but also never left. Her childhood habits once thought as a disorder become her chance at survival. Could her rebirth be quiet and peaceful as she hoped or another nightmare. Lets head into the forest and find out...

The baneful herbs being woven into the story with admirance for what these herbs represented and did for women at a time of need. As well shining a light of what it truly means for a women coming out of a abusive relationship, into a world were they can find themselves again while at the same time becoming a new woman.

As a herbalist that's studying baneful herbs and mushrooms (cant forget them), I couldn't help writing down each one. The relationship between our characters and these baneful beauty as well as each other is empowering. A coven is like a forest both unique and every flowing together as one in this story. They look out for one another not just with each other. But every woman that felt alone and destroyed that they had a witch in their corner.

I feel that this book taught me that a woman is only a threat to those that are weaker then her. A woman is both deadly and sweet to her core, that is a gift we should nuture and express without being forced to be small.

Thanks again to Netgallery, St Martin's Publishing Group, and Ava Morgyn for this ride or die of a book.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley. I tend to stick to audiobooks lately, so I must have requested this ebook by mistake. I don’t recall, but when my request was approved, I let it sit for a while because I was struggling to find the time to read instead of listen to a book. Then, I realized that Ava Morgyn also wrote The Witches of Bone Hill, which was excellent. Suddenly, getting started with this ebook was the top of my list of priorities.

It did not disappoint.

This book was absolutely spectacular. I was hooked from the first page and had a hard time putting this down when pesky things like preparing meals or sleep called.

There is so much mystery set up in the first half of the book. As pieces unravel, new mysteries are introduced. The suspense aspect of this book is very well done. The threads of all these mysteries finally come together to a satisfying conclusion.

There are a lot of elements to this story: magic, a coven, hunting a serial killer and more. However, the heart of this story is Piers (FMC) healing and reclaiming her strength and power after abuse which is always energizing to read about.

i couldn’t really get into this book unfortunately, the writing just wasn’t for me and some of the things written in the book were just not for me. the plot had a lot going on and was hard to follow at times which left me confused. i did not finish it